Raise Damage Limit Tort Actions
| Type | Bill |
|---|---|
| Session | 2024 Regular Session |
| Subjects |
Concerning matters related to certain tort actions, and, in connection therewith, increasing the cap on noneconomic damages, allowing siblings to bring a wrongful death action in certain circumstances, increasing a wrongful death damages cap, increasing the medical malpractice wrongful death damages cap, and increasing the medical malpractice noneconomic damages cap.
Bill Summary:
For civil actions filed on or after January 1, 2025, the act increases the cap on damages for noneconomic loss or injury from $250,000 to $1.5 million, and, starting January 1, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter, adjusts the damages cap based on inflation.
Current law specifies who may sue for wrongful death. The act adds a sibling of the deceased as a party who may bring a wrongful death action in certain circumstances.
The act imposes a wrongful death damages cap of $2.125 million, and, starting January 1, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter, adjusts the damages cap based on inflation.
Beginning January 1, 2025, the act incrementally increases the medical malpractice wrongful death damages limitation to $1.575 million over the course of 5 years. Thereafter, the cap is adjusted biennially for inflation.
Existing law limits the amount recoverable for noneconomic damages in medical malpractice actions to $300,000. Beginning January 1, 2025, the act incrementally increases the noneconomic damages limitation to $875,000 over the course of 5 years. Thereafter, the cap is adjusted biennially for inflation.
APPROVED by Governor June 3, 2024
EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Related Documents & Information
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 05/05/2024 | PA1 |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Refer House Bill 24-1472 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. | Vote summary |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Adopt amendment L.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 24-1472, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. | Vote summary |
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/07/2024 | Third Reading | BILL |
35
AYE
0
NO
0
OTHER
|
Vote record |
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/06/2024 | Third Reading | BILL |
55
AYE
6
NO
4
OTHER
|
Vote record |
| 05/06/2024 | Third Reading | AMD (L.003) |
61
AYE
0
NO
4
OTHER
|
Vote record |
| 05/06/2024 | Third Reading | PERM |
61
AYE
1
NO
3
OTHER
|
Vote record |
| Date | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 06/03/2024 | Governor | Governor Signed |
| 05/23/2024 | Governor | Sent to the Governor |
| 05/23/2024 | Senate | Signed by the President of the Senate |
| 05/23/2024 | House | Signed by the Speaker of the House |
| 05/07/2024 | Senate | Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 05/06/2024 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments |
| 05/06/2024 | Senate | Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 05/06/2024 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance |
| 05/06/2024 | House | House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor |
| 05/05/2024 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 05/05/2024 | House | House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 05/05/2024 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary |
Prime Sponsor
Sponsor
Co-Sponsor
| Effective Date | Chapter # | Title | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2025 | 325 | Raise Damage Limit Tort Actions |